Why Teenage Sex Is On The Rise
- With increasing exposure to 'western' cultural mores through Hollywood teen-flicks and teen-centric TV serials, dating and premarital sex are considered 'cool', leading to peer pressure to become sexually active early
- Easy access to cyber porn
- Increased opportunities for interaction between boys and girls, with more places to 'hang out' unsupervised, such as cafes, malls, pubs and discos
- Easier access to drugs and alcohol
- With both parents often working, less parental supervision at home
- Lack of credible sex education both at school and home. Studies prove that those who receive comprehensive sex education delay their first sexual encounter.
***
What Parents Can Do
- Understand that sexual curiosity and increased interest in the opposite sex are normal symptoms of adolescence
- Keep the channels of communication open at all times
- Take out time to spend with your teenager
- Know his friends. Stay in touch with their parents.
- Place limits on spending and pocket money. Insist on bills for credit card expenditure and mobile phones.
- Instal a Net Nanny so there are limits on net surfing
- Support and partner with your child's school to make sex education available in an age-appropriate manner
- Answer every question that a child asks. If you don't have the answer, do get back with an answer later.
***
L
Recipes for Parenting
*The names of teenagers have been changed.
